Interview - ABC Afternoon Briefing with Stephanie Dalzell

STEPHANIE DALZELL, HOST: Returning to our top story today, the government says it will investigate the child care sector after Four Corners exposed systemic issues and cases of abuse and neglect. Let's bring in the Early Childhood Education Minister, Anne Aly, to discuss this further. Anne, thanks for joining us. This Four Corners investigation exposed a flawed and inconsistent regulatory system for child care centres with allegations of abuse. Can I just ask you, firstly, what was your initial reaction when you saw the story?

MINISTER ANNE ALY: Yeah, look, I think the behaviours that were reported in last night's story are deeply, deeply concerning and I want to make it very clear that there is no tolerance for those kinds of behaviours in early childhood education and care sector. We care deeply and are committed to child wellbeing and safety and understand that parents rightly expect that when they drop off their children in early childhood education and care, that their children are well looked after, that they're safe and that they're secure.

I might point out that the vast majority of providers, and the vast majority of early childhood educators, are dedicated professionals who care deeply about safety and child development and child education.

I would also point out that I expect that state and territory governments fulfil their regulatory obligations and ensure that services operating within their jurisdictions comply with the National Quality Framework.

Now, this afternoon, I have asked the CEO of the National Quality Authority to give some immediate advice on what more can be done around child safety and security, building on the 2023 recommendations of the report that myself and the Minister for Education, Jason Clare commissioned. That gives us a range of recommendations for improving child safety in early childhood education and care. All state and territory ministers and the Commonwealth Government have agreed on those recommendations and we're making good progress in implementing those recommendations. And we'll continue working with state and territory governments to ensure that child safety and wellbeing are front and centre of our early childhood education and care system.

DALZELL: You mentioned the state and territory regulators. Given how systemic these failures and breaches have been here, does the Federal Government need to take over regulation to ensure children's safety?

ALY: Well, early childhood education and care and the regulation of early childhood education and care services is a shared responsibility. The states have a responsibility and the Federal Government has a responsibility. And so, I would reiterate that I expect state and territory governments to fulfil their regulatory obligations and ensure that services within their jurisdictions comply with the National Quality Framework.

DALZELL: The Commonwealth pays Child Care Subsidies. You're writing the cheques. Wouldn't it make sense for you to also fund the regulators upholding these national standards?

ALY: As I said, it's a shared responsibility between state and Federal Governments. The Federal Government has a responsibility for the National Quality Framework. The state governments have a responsibility for the regulation. Embedded within the National Quality Framework are safety, security and child health and wellbeing measures. And I expect that state and territory governments fulfil that regulatory responsibility.

DALZELL: The Prime Minister says he supports an investigation into the sector. I know it's early days, but what are you anticipating that might look like? The Greens are calling for a Royal Commission. Why won't you consider that? And what will this investigation look like?

ALY: Well, the Prime Minister, as the Prime Minister said, Royal Commissions take years. Now, these are not issues that have just cropped up in early childhood education and care. They are long-standing issues. But this is the first time we have a Federal Government, in the Federal Labor Government, that is taking reform seriously and that has a program of reform. We have already commissioned a review by the ACCC, a review by the Productivity Commission. We have in 2023, as I mentioned, the review into child safety and wellbeing in early childhood education and care. Those reviews are informing our pathway to a system, a universal early childhood education and care system, that is based on quality, affordability and accessibility for every child in Australia. We'll continue to refer to the reviews that we have done and the consultations that we have with the sector, with families, with educators to chart that pathway to universal early childhood education and care, which is quality, which is affordable and which is accessible.

DALZELL: Anne on another topic, Israel has begun striking Gaza again today, the biggest attack since the start of this ceasefire. How concerned are you about this and the status of the ceasefire?

ALY: I'm deeply concerned. I think the ceasefire gave hope of the stages towards a more lasting peace between Palestine and Israel. I have said before, and I will say it again, there is absolutely no justification for the collective punishment of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli Defence Forces. And you know, this is deeply, deeply concerning. I continue to push for, and I know Australia will continue to push for, an end to the hostilities, a lasting ceasefire and a lasting peace.

DALZELL: Can I also ask you about Peter Dutton's idea for a referendum to deport dual citizens that have committed serious crimes? We just heard Shadow Trade Minister Kevin Hogan say that one person is too many to be a dual citizen that's committed a serious crime like terrorism. What's your response to that?

ALY: Well, our constitution is very clear. A citizen is a citizen, and all citizens should be treated equally. You know, I think the Prime Minister describes this as a thought bubble. I would add to that that Peter Dutton likes to punch down, and he likes to utilise the politics of division and politics of fear for what he sees to be as political gain. I agree with the Prime Minister that this is a thought bubble.

DALZELL: What would the government do, or what is the government doing to deal with dual citizens who have committed crimes like terrorism?

ALY: We have laws in place, and we continue to follow the letter of the law. What we're talking about here is Peter Dutton wanting to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on a referendum to change our constitution, to give himself the power to take away, strip away citizenship as he sees fit. You know, I think that many Australians would find that idea of a single politician having the power to strip them of their citizenship to be quite untasteful.

DALZELL: When pressing Kevin Hogan about this idea earlier, he didn't have any specific figures on exactly how many dual citizens might have committed crimes like terrorism. Are you concerned about the Coalition putting this on the table without those details in place?

ALY: I'm concerned that it will be a free-for-all. You know, where does it stop? Who decides? If Peter Dutton wants the power to decide who gets citizenship and who doesn't, or who gets their citizens stripped and who doesn't get their citizens stripped, I think all Australians should be concerned about that.

DALZELL: Anne Aly, thanks so much for your time. We really appreciate it.

ALY: Thank you.